Automatic dirigible lamp.



W. BURKE.

AUTMATIC DIRGIBLE LAMP. APPLicATkoN man SEPT. 14, 1915.

Patented May 30, 1916.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

WILLIAM BURKE, OF HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 THE AUTOMOBILE ACCESSORY COMPANY, 0F' ASHLAND, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION OF KENTUCKY. i

AUTCMATIC/ DIRIGIBLE LAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent. v

Patented May 3o, 1916.

Application filed September 14, 1915.l Serial N o; 50,687.

To all whom t may concern a novel means for actuating or oscillating the head lamps of a vehicle in unison with the operation of the steering gear, so that the head lamps will effectively illuminate the path of the vehicle.

The main object of the invention is to produce means of the above characterthat is simple in construction, consisting'of few parts, and which may be applied with facility to machines of different makes and types.

With theseends in. view, the invention consists in a certain novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts heref inafter more fully described and nallypointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings which form part of the specification: Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an automobile with the present invention applied thereto, parts being broken away to illustrate the detail construction of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the steering and running gear of a vehicle with the invention applied thereto, the operation of the same being illustrated in dotted lines; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the invention when removed from the vehicle; Fig. 4 is al detail sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5

- is a detail view showing the means employedI to connect the shifting rod to the rocker bar; and Fig. (3 is a detail perspective view of a slightly modified form of the invention.

Similar reference characters denote like parts throughout the specification and draw ings.

Referring particularly Ito the drawings, A indicates the chassis of thc vehicle and B indicates a portion of the steering gear of the vehicle to which the lamp mechanism-Cis connected. Thesteering gear, here shown, is of the u sual and conventional type, comprising stub axles 1 pivoted tothe front axle 2 of the vehicle and having arms 3 extending rearwardly therefromf The arms 3 are connected together by the usual connecting rod 4 through which the stub axles are simultaneously operated from a suitableisteering wheel, not shown, having connection with the rod 4.

i. Suitably secured to each sideiof the chassis of the vehitge, preferably in advance of the front or sta onary axle 2, is a bracket arm 5 having a. vertical aperture 6 in its free end. A bolt or pivot member 7 p extends through the aperture 6 and has an enlarged head 9 to prevent the pivot from falling through said aperture. The lower' end of the bolt or pivot 7 `depends from the bracket arm 5.

The dirigiblesupport of each lamp comprises a disk 8 having a central aperture 10, through which the depending end of the pivot 7 extends, the disk having annular grooves or'ball races 11 on its opposite sides. Upper and llower bearing plates 12 and 13, respectively, are arranged on the pivot 7 and on opposite sides ,of each disk, and have ball races formed in their faces which lie ad- `jacent to the disk 8, which ball races are complementary to the ball races of the disk 8 and receive anti-frictional members 14. The upper bearing plate 12may Abe formed integral with the bracket arms 5, while the lower bearing plate 13 preferably has a conical projection on its lower face' against which a nut l'bears. The nut 15 is threaded on the lower end of the pivot 7 and is adapted to hold the bearing plates, disk and anti--frictional members in assembled and operative position.

Secured to the periphery of each of the disks 8 andprojeeting therefrom is a forwardly extending lamp bracket. 1G, which may be made integral with the disk 8 or be secured thereto by suitable fastening means. As-here shown, the lamp lbracket comprises a horizontal extension 16, having immediate connection with the disk and carrying-.the upright lampsupporting arm 16". Extending from each of the disks 8, preferably at a point diametrically Iopposite the lamp bracket 16, is an arm 17, and said arms 17 of lib the disks. 8. are pivotally connected 4by a rocker bar `18 extending parallel with the connecting rodt. Extending diagonally between the connecting rod 4 and the rocker bar 18,-and'connecting the same,vis a lshii`t-y ing rod 19 having its opposite ends con,

nected, respectively, to the connecting rod 4 and rocker barv 18 by suitable clamping members 20 consisting of'complemental @sections-2l and 22 adapted to be Secured` together on opposite sides of said respective rod and bar byv suitable fastening members 23, such as screws, or'the like. The opposite ends of the shifting rod 19 are of aA knobbed or spherical formation, as is shown at 24, Fig. 5. Each .of the sections 21 and 22 of the clamping members is recessed to form a socket, whensaid sections are secured "to: gether 1n position, to receive and retain theform of support the principle and spirit of the invention are not departed from. vAsalso shown in' Fig. 6, the arm 17 may be elon-n gated to meet. the` requirements of various automobiles, as will be readily understood.

From the foregoing, 'it will be seen that l the invention embodies a simple mechanism for simultaneously operating -the headn lamps of a vehicle with the movement of the wheels, or steering gear thereof so as to always position the lamps to direct their light in front of and in the path of the vehicle.` The invention as a whole consists of few parts which operate with great ease, which may be easily applied to various machines and which are durable in operation.. vIt is to be understoodv that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that such variations may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts as fall within thevscope of the appended claims.

` What is claimed is 1. A dirigible lamp for vehicles, comprising a rotatable disk having a lamp bracket and an arm projecting therefrom at diametrically opposite points, upper and lower bearing plates for said disk, antifriction members arranged between said disk and said upper and lower bearing means for rocking` said arm.

2. Automatic dirigible lamps for vehicles,

comprising, in combination, stub axles having arms, a connecting rod between said arms, a plurality of disks rotatably mounted anism for the vehicle,

plates, and

on the frame of the vehicle, a'lamp bracket .projecting from each of said disks, an arm extending from each of said disks, a rocking bar connecting the arms of the disks, a

lshifting rod connecting said connecting rod and rocking bar, upper and lower bearing plates forthe disks, and anti-frictional members interposed between said disks and upper and lower bearing plates.

Automatic dirigible lampsv for vehicles, comprising, in combination, stub axles having arms, a connecting rod between said farms, a` plurality of disks rotatably m'ounted on `the frame ofthe vehicle, lamp brackets carand av shifting rod providedy with knobbed ends and having its opposite ends arranged in the sockets of the clamping members on the connecting rod and rocking bar, re-

Spectively. y y

4. A dirigible lamp for Vehicles, compris ing a pivot forl attachment tothe frame-of the vehicle, a disk rotatably mounted on the -pivot, a lamp bracket projectingjofrom said disk, an arm projecting from sald disk, up per and lower bearing plates for said disk, anti-frictional members inter osed vbetween -said disky and upper and ower Vbearing plates, means on the pivot for holding said bearing plates 'and disk in position, and a shifting rod connectedto said arm.

5. Automatic dirigible lamps for vehicles,

comprising, in combination, stub axles, a

rod connecting said axles, a' disk rotatably mounted on the frame of the vehicle, a lamp bracket projecting from the disk, a lshifting rod' connected to said connecting rod' and i having a connection with the disk, upper and lower bearing plates for the disk, and anti-frictional members interposed between said disk and upper and llower bearing plates.

6. Automatic dirigiblelamps for vehicles, comprising, in combination, steering mech-A l a vpivot member eX- tending from the'frame of'tlie vehicle, a disk rotatably Vmounted on said pivot, a lamp bracket extending from said disk, an

Narm extending from said disk, upper and lower bearing plates carried by said ivot and on opposite nsides of the disk, said earing plates having ball races formed'therein, said dislri'aw'ingv corresponding ball races formed in its opposite sides, anti-frictional members \in said races, and means connecting said arm with the vehicle.

vsteering* gear of the' 7. Automatic dirigible lamps Ifor vehicles,

comprising, in combination, steering mec'fv anism for the vehicle, a pivoted-imember eX-v tending from theframe of the vehicle, a

.disk rotatably mounted on said pivot, bearand means connecting said arm with the 10 ing plates arranged on opposite sides of the steering gear of the vehicle.

disk and having ball races formed therein, In testimony whereof l' have hereunto set said disk having corresponding ball races my hand n presence of two subscribing Witformed therein, anti-frictional members in nesso-s.

said races, means on said pivot for remov- WILLIAM BURKE. ably holding said bearing plates and disk in Witnesses:

position, a lamp bracket extending from JOHN C. LAFFIN,

said disk, an arm extending from` the disk, F. L. DooLI'rrLE. 

